Eight Washington casinos previously listed for closure are expected to remain open after Maverick Gaming owner Eric Persson moved to buy the properties back from lenders, preserving around 850 jobs if the transaction closes as planned.
The casinos had been scheduled to close on November 30 under Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notices filed by Maverick Washington LLC. Persson now expects the ownership transfer to close within about three weeks and said operations will continue during the transition.
The properties are Great American Casino in Everett, All Star Casino in Silverdale, Casino Caribbean in Yakima, Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco and Coyote Bob’s Casino in Kennewick, along with Chip’s Casino, Macau Casino and Palace Casino in Lakewood.
“From a customer standpoint, you know nothing changes,” Persson said. “The building never closes.”
The WARN notices cover positions including dealers, bartenders, servers, cooks, cashiers, security staff and managers. Persson said employees will formally leave the current company before being rehired by the new owner.
“The employees are being terminated as it relates to the old company and being rehired by the new company, but the properties themselves will stay open,” he said.
Closure Notices Had Left Room for a Sale
The original WARN filings stated that a change in ownership could prevent the announced shutdowns.
“Maverick Washington LLC is currently subject to a bankruptcy proceeding and, as part of that proceeding, there could be a potential change of operator and/or owner for the site,” Human Resources Director Christine Wisniewski stated. “If the site is transitioned to a new owner/operator, the above-referenced closure may not occur, or alternatively, the closure could be delayed. We will provide updated information to you in the event that occurs.”
Persson said the notices caused confusion among workers and customers because they focused on the employment transition without clearly indicating that the casinos could stay open.
“It would have been helpful, I think, if the WARN notice said that you know there was an expected transition with another party, and these properties are expected to remain open,” he said, as reported by KIRO7.
He added that he does not expect major obstacles to the deal and is working with regulators.
“I’m trying to make sure these properties stay open, these jobs stay in place,” he said.
Buyback Follows Maverick Restructuring
The deal stems from Maverick’s earlier financial restructuring.
Persson said he transferred assets to lenders in July 2025, after which RunItOneTime LLC and related entities entered Chapter 11 proceedings. He later reacquired the Maverick Gaming name and has been buying assets back from those lenders.
“Maverick Gaming is not a party to the bankruptcy,” he said. “We’re a separate company.”
Persson’s current operation has already reacquired four Washington card rooms — two in Kirkland, one in Mountlake Terrace and one in Lakewood — as well as a manufacturing business.
The latest eight-property transaction continues that process.
“These card rooms are staying open,” Persson said.
Other Casino Sales Are Also Underway
Additional former Maverick properties are moving through separate ownership changes.
Two Tukwila casinos previously filed WARN notices affecting 238 workers. Those filings listed November 1 as the closure date for Great American Casino and Riverside Casino, with 96 positions affected at Great American and 142 at Riverside.
Persson said two other properties are being sold to another buyer, with that transaction expected to close in about a month. He did not identify them. Three additional properties have already been sold to a different buyer.
Separate WARN notices also concern Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko, Nevada, where 239 jobs could be affected by potential November 30 closures. The supplied material does not establish whether Persson intends to acquire those locations.